Effects of melatonin on both testicular regeneration and recovery of spermatogenesis in busulfan-treated rats

Testicular damage is one of the most hazardous effects of chemotherapy as it is frequently associated with oligozoospermia and azoospermia. This study aimed at evaluating the protective effect of melatonin in a rat model of busulfan-induced testicular injury. Rats were divided into four groups: control, melatonin, busulfan, busulfan plus melatonin. After 15 days, the semen was collected from the epididymis and testes were assessed. Sperm removed from cauda epididymis and analyzed for sperm count and viability. Testis tissues were also removed, fixed in formalin and were embedded in paraffin. Sections of testis tissue were stained with hematoxylin-eosin for histological examination and prepared for TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling) assay to detect apoptosis and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigenassay) to detect proliferation cells. Serum and testes supernatants were separated to detect testosteron level and oxidative stress parameters. In histological examination, degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules were observed in the experimental groups. In biochemical examination, the total oxidant status (TOS) levels in Busulfan group were significantly higher than in the control group while the total antioxidant status (TAS) levels of all the groups were similar. In conclusion, the beneficial properties of melatonin treatment by its potent anti-oxidants may reduce adverse effects of chemotherapy in the reproductive system in a rodent system.Scientific Research Fund of Bezmialem Vakıf Universit

Elevated Serum Level of DHEAS as a Hormone and IL-6 as a Proinflammatory Cytokine May Better Indicate Metabolic Syndrome in PCOS Women

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent metabolic disorder in reproductive-age women, indeed multifactorial condition. Cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6 have influence on several metabolic activities. The increase in dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is thought to play an important role in IL-6-mediated pathogenetic effects in PCOS women. The aim of this study is to explore whether TNF-alpha and IL-6 are correlated hormone levels in PCOS disease.  We recruited 65 PCOS patients and 45 healthy controls. The serum IL-6, TNF-alpha, levels were measured by ELISA and clinical characteristics were measured. Both serum IL-6, TNF-alpha levels (p<0.01), or the serum TSH, FSH, LH, PRL levels were significantly higher in the patients of PCOS (p<0.01). Serum IL-6 levels were correlated with DHEAS level (r=-0.4186, p<0.01). DHEAS level tended to be higher in PCOS women with a correlation between age, BMI, IL-6 level and positively correlated with FSH, LH and PRL levels (p<0.01). There was an elevation of TSH level in the PCOS group (2.4±1.5) vs. control group (1.8±1.6). However, in control samples, there was no correlation between TNF alpha and IL-6, while in the PCOS samples positive correlation, was obtained. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was higher than the control (20.38±13.2) group vs. PCOS women (128.33±33.8) but only 3.44 % of them had Type II diabetes. HOMA-IR index was higher in the PCOS group (8.26±15.06) vs. control group (2.12±0.88) too. There was a correlation between age and IL-6 level and BMI. Serum IL-6 and DHEAS levels were significantly altered in PCOS patients and determined which might be PCOS prognostic importance. Keywords; PCOS; Cytokines; TNF-alpha; IL-6; DHEAS; Metabolic syndrome DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/71-02 Publication date:June 30th 202

The healing effects of the topical mesenchymal stem cells application on colonic anastomosis subjected to ischemia reperfusion injury

Intestinal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a challenging problem and it adversely affects the healing of colonic anastomosis. Our experimental study aimed to investigate the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) administration in the healing of colonic anastomosis. A total of 33 rats were grouped as Control, IRI and MSC treatment groups. Three rats were reserved for obtaining MSCs. Colonic resection and anastomosis procedure was performed in all groups. Anastomotic line was wrapped with MSCs impregnated spongostan after colonic anastomosis in the rats of the MSC treatment group. All rats were sacrificed and anastomotic line were sampled for examination on the post operative seventh day. Tissue hydroxyproline (HP) levels and anastomotic bursting pressures were statistically compared. Anastomotic bursting pressures were found to be significantly high in MSC treatment group rats. The lowest anastomotic bursting pressure was detected in IRI group rats. Hydroxyproline content of the anastomotic sites were also found to be significantly higher in the rats of the MSC treatment group when compared with the IRI group rats. Our study showed that the detrimental effects of IRI on the healing process of colonic anastomosis in an experimental model may be alleviated with the treatment of MSCs. © 2021, Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi. All rights reserved

Hydrogen Sulphide and Nitric Oxide Cooperate in Cardioprotection Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Isolated Rat Heart

Background/Aim: This study was designed to provide further evidence for the interactions between hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and nitric oxide (NO) in ischemia/reperfiision (I/R) injury. Materials and Methods: Rat hearts were studied with the Langendorff technique using the H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, 40 mu M) and the cystathionine gamma-lyase (CTH or CSE) inhibitor DL-propargylglycine (PAG, 1 mM). NO synthase inhibitor L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 30 mg/kg, 7 days) was administered before the isolation. The hearts were homogenized for biochemical and molecular analysis. Results: NaHS reversed I/R-induced cardiac performance impairment, increased tissue nitric oxide production and decreased tissue markers for cardiac injury, while L-NAME inhibited these effects. The expression of CTH was increased with PAG, which was suppressed by L-NAME. Conclusion: H2S and NO increase each other's production suggesting their interaction and cooperation in cardioprotection against I/R injury.Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul UniversityIstanbul University [31508, 55736, 47109]This work was supported by Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Istanbul University [grant numbers; 31508, 55736 and 47109]

Role of serum metalloproteinases 2 and 9 to assess the severity of COVID-19 in pregnant women: a prospective cross-sectional study

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between blood matrix metalloproteinases -2 and -9 levels and disease severity in pregnant women with COVID-19 infection. Material and methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Education and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. We measured serum MMPs-2 and-9 levels of the healthy pregnant controls and pregnant women with COVID-19 and sought to assess the status of these MMPs in pregnant women with COVID-19, especially in women with a severe form of COVID-19 as diagnosed by abnormal computed tomography (CT) findings in addition to severe clinical and laboratory findings. Results: Of the healthy pregnant controls and pregnant women with COVID-19, the serum MMP-2 levels were comparable, but the MMP-9 level was lower in the pregnant women with COVID-19. Although the serum MMP2 level was somewhat lower in the women with COVID-19 with abnormal CT findings. The serum MMP-9 level of pregnant women with COVID-19 with abnormal CT was meaningfully lower. Conclusions: In the pregnant women, COVID-19 decreases the serum MMP-9 but does not change the serum MMP-2. COVID-19 with abnormal CT findings causes minimal decrease in the serum MMP-2 but decreases the serum MMP-9 with abnormal CT findings. Considering the study variables of current study, the probability of LMWH-related MMP alterations needs to be a study topic to clarify the possible contribution of LMWH to the status of serum MMPs in pregnant women with COVİD-19 especially in the women with COVID-19 with abnormal CT findings

Angiotensin IV improves spatial memory in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by reducing oxidative stress and altering BDNF levels

In this study, we investigated the protective effects of angiotensin IV (Mg IV) on cognitive function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Wistar albino rats, were randomly divided into four groups; control (C), diabetes (Dia, 60 mg/kg, STZ, i.p.), Mg IV (5 mu g/kg, s.c.) and Dia+Ang W. The passive avoidance and Morris water maze (MWM) tests were used to evaluate learning and memory performance. Behavioral tests were carried out between 21 and 30 days after the initial Ang IV injection. Hippocampi were dissected and retained for biochemical and Western blot analysis. The Dia group exhibited the poorest behavioral results, while the Dia+Ang W group performed highest on the MWM task. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde levels increased significantly in the Dia group compared to Dia+Ang IV. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and N-methyl-D-aspartate levels were significantly elevated, while levels of GABA(A) significantly decreased, in the Dia+Ang IV group compared to the Dia group. These findings suggest that peripheral administration of Ang IV ameliorated spatial memory in diabetic rats by decreasing hippocampal oxidative stress and BDNF levels

The acorn honey used for a published study was mistakenly listed as quercus pyrenaica and should be corrected to quercus species

A critical review letter1 was published concerning the article “Quercus pyrenaica honeydew honey effects on gastric adenocarcinoma cells” published in Integrative Cancer Therapies in 2019.2 According to the letter, the authors reported that the Quercus pyrenaica mentioned in the study was neither found in Mount Ida nor within the borders of Turkey as stated in the study, therefore the results obtained in the study may belong to another Quercus species

Quercus pyrenaica honeydew honey with high phenolic contents cause dna damage, apoptosis, and cell death through generation of reactive oxygen species in gastric adenocarcinoma cells

Many studies have shown that honey with high phenolic contents prevents cancer formation. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that honey can be used for the treatment of cancer as well as cancer prevention. Antineoplastic effects of honey are often associated with their antioxidant phenolic contents. However, very few studies have dealt with the association of phenolic contents of honeys in terms of antiproliferative effects. The aim of this study was, therefore, to elucidate the cytotoxic, genotoxic, apoptotic, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating effects of honey samples on the basis of their phenolic and flavonoid contents. Fourteen different honey varieties were collected from various parts of Turkey, and their characteristics regarding total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant contents were determined to test their effects on gastric cancer cells (AGS). For convenience, 2 honey varieties were selected, namely, Ida Mountains Quercus pyrenaica honeydew honey (QPHH-IM) having the highest phenolic and antioxidant content and Canakkale multifloral honey (MFH-C) with the lowest phenolic and antioxidant content. Levels of 11 different phenolic compounds in QPHH-IM and MFH-C samples were determined by LC-MS/MS. AGS cells were incubated with different concentrations of QPHH-IM and MFH-C for 24 hours, then the cell viability, DNA damage, apoptosis, and generation of ROS were determined. We found that QPHH-IM had more cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects than that of MFH-C. We think that these effects are probably related to pro-oxidant activities due to the high phenolic contents present. Therefore, further research on high-phenolic honey may contribute to the future development of cancer therapeutics

Structural analysis of wild-type and Val120Thr mutant Candida boidinii formate dehydrogenase by X-ray crystallography

Candida boidinii NAD+-dependent formate dehydrogenase (CbFDH) has gained significant attention for its potential applications in the production of biofuels and various industrial chemicals from inorganic carbon dioxide. The present study reports the atomic X-ray crystal structures of the wild-type CbFDH at cryogenic and ambient temperatures as well as Val120Thr mutant at cryogenic temperature determined at the Turkish Light Source "Turkish DeLight". The structures reveal new hydrogen bonds between Thr120 and water molecules in the mutant CbFDH's active site, suggesting increased stability of the active site and more efficient electron transfer during the reaction. Further experimental data is needed to test these hypotheses. Collectively, our findings provide invaluable insights into future protein engineering efforts that could potentially enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of CbFDH

Prediction of preterm delivery in threatened preterm labour with short cervical length

In this study, we evaluated the value of the uterocervical angle (UCA), myometrial thickness (MT), sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels in women with threatened preterm labour (TPL) in predicting spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) within 14 days in symptomatic women with cervical length (CL) measurements between 10 and 25 mm. Forty-six patients diagnosed with TPL, 47 healthy pregnant women were evaluated in a case-control study. sE-selectin (AUC = 0.744, p = .007) and PTX3 (AUC = 0.711, p = .019) were found to be effective in predicting preterm delivery within 14 days. In conclusion, maternal sE-selectin and PTX3 levels may be helpful in identifying pregnancies that will deliver within 14 days in symptomatic women with CL measurements between 10 and 25 mm. However, maternal sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels, MT and UCA are not effective in the prediction of sPTB in TPL pregnancies. Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? Aetiology of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is unclear and believed to be multifactorial, infection, inflammation, vascular endothelial dysfunction and uteroplacental ischaemia are all considered to be related to preterm delivery syndrome. Transvaginal cervical length (CL) measurement is a good indicator of increased risk of sPTB. Inflammation is accepted to have a central role in the process of labour. What do the results of this study add? soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels may be helpful in identifying pregnancies that will deliver within 14 days in symptomatic women with CL measurements between 10 and 25 mm. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study will help understand the important role of the inflammatory process in predicting spontaneous preterm birth